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Over 100,000 people pass through Niger to Europe annually: minister

Xinhua, May 6, 2016 Adjust font size:

More than 100,000 illegal migrants from sub-Saharan Africa pass through Niger to Europe every year, Niger's Foreign Affairs Minister, Ibrahim Yacoubou, has said.

Yacoubou was speaking during a meeting on Wednesday in Niamey, capital of Niger, with his French and German counterparts, Jean-Marc Ayrault and Frank-Walter Steinmeier respectively, representing the European Union (EU).

The two were on a visit to discuss the issue of illegal migration and security situation in the Sahel region.

Situated between sub-Saharan Africa and the Maghreb region, Niger is a major transit route towards Europe for migrants from Africa.

Yacoubou said there was need to confront the causes of illegal migration, which he said included "insecurity, poverty, lack of democracy in some countries and climate change."

He said Niger's government was making efforts to address issues that caused illegal migration.

The EU and Niger signed a cooperation agreement to reduce the number of illegal migrants passing through Niger, according to a joint statement issued after the meeting.

The EU also announced it would fund five projects worth 74.9 million euros in Niger to address the "deeper causes" of illegal migration. Endit